Combined closure and applicator



' Sept. 14, 1937. c. G. YATEs ET Al. 2,092,792

COMBINED CLOSURE AND APPLICATOR Filed Jan. 18, 1935 Chim/mir Patented Sept. 14, 1937 PATENT OFFICE" 'COMBINED cLosUnE AND ArPLIoATon Charles G. Yates, Greensboro, N. C., and Wallace W. De Laney, New Haven, Conn., assignors to Vick Chemical Company, Philadelphia., Pa.,l a corporation of Delaware yApplication January is, 1935, serial No. 2,436 3 claims. (011.2217443) This invention relates to a combined closure and applicator of the general character used primarily but not necessarily for medicines, 'such as are applied drop by drop to the nose and/or throat.

It is usual in the distribution of medicaments intended for application to the nose and throat to sell a bottle of. the liquid closed by a screw cap and to furnish with such bottle a combination stopper and dropper'for use with the bottle by the person using it, the original screw cap being thrown away and the combination stopper -and dropper being subsequently used as both a bottle closure and applicator. y

It is aimedY to produce a construction of the class having a rigid cap, elastic b ulb and rigid dropper which remains pensive and durable, wherein'relative movement between the elastic bulb wherein the unsatisfactory frictional holding of the elastic part` and cap is obviated enabling a more unitary use and operation of the elastic part and cap unaiected by the oily content of such a medicine, and to provide a construction which overcomes the likelihood of separation of the cap and elastic part through usage.

A primary object is to provide insuch a device, a cap having its top walll centrally open and upwardly and inwardly bulged to more effectively coact with an exterior protuberance on the elastic bulb to avoid or guard 'against a relative movement between the cap and elasticmember. l

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from av consideration of thedescription following, taken inl connection with the4 accompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.'

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is an enlarged view in central vertical section, showing the'invention applied to a bottle or container;

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the invention; and

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view ofthe bulb or elastic part.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, the invention essentially comprises a closure cap I0, a one piece rubber or other elastic element I I, and a dropper tube I2 carried by the latter, all constituting a unit adapted for application and removal to or from a bottle or container I3.

Said cap I0 may bemade of any suitable relatively rigid material, for instance, sheet metal,

and has screw threads at I4, engaging correspondexceedingly simple, inexand cap is overcome,'

ing screw threads at I5 on the neck of the bottle I3 Said cap I 0 has an upper wall I6 which has a central opening at I1 and which wall is upwardly and inwardly bulged by doming or curving the 5 same as shown. y

In constructing the metal cap I0, the top I6 thereof extends inwardly in a horizontal plane l as at I6' and is then bulged or domed slightly upwardly as at I6", afterwhich the wall or top 10 I6 again extends inwardly in a horizontal plane asat IB'".

The elastic body II is preferably made in a single piece and has a bulb I8 which extends snugly through the aforesaid opening II, and a. 15 basal flange I9 extending outwardly and disposed under and marginally lengaging the top wall I6 of the cap. In addition, the bulb I8, slightly above its basal iiange I9 has an exterior laterallprotuberance 20, suchas an annular rib as shown, whichengages the outer surface of the wall Ii.

The vertical distance between the planefof the two portions I 6' and IS'" is slightly greater than the width of the space between the lower portion of the annular rib 20 and the upper portion of the '25 ange I9. l

In assembling the`device the dropper tube is inserted in the elastic member or bulb I8 and? 2Il preventingany material relative movement between the elastic body I I as a. whole and the cap 35 The results sought are attained even with clearance provided between the upper surface .of Y the basal flange I9 inwardly of its margin as shown at 2|. The peripheral edge of the basalv 40 ange I9 does not contact the side wall of the cap I0 since these parts are held together otherwise than by friction, and alsosince there willbe less suction to overcome Ain removing the device from the bottle. 45

Relative bodily movement between theelastic element II and the -cap is further prevented by inwardly extending the ange I9 as at 22 about the entrance to the bulb, and which flange 22- snugly snaps into a continuous groove 23 pro- 50 vided about the dropper tube I2 adjacent the top thereof. Such dropper tube I2 may be made of any suitable material, usually of glass.

The invention is primarily used in connection with a medicine contained within the glass or 56 other bottle or receptacle I3, for instance of that oily character which is the nose and throat. To this end, thebulb I8 is compressed to draw the medicine into the dropper tube I2, while the cap I0 is detached from the bottle I3; release of the bulb permitting it to expand tothe normal condition shown and to thereby eject the medicine.

It will be realized that when the dropper is not being used to apply the medicine, flange i9, by reason ,of its engagement with the upper edge ofthe bottle i3, forms an effective seal.` y

To facilitate manipulation of the device, the cap l0 at the side above the' screw threads I4 is preferably knurled as shown at 25.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

' We claim as our invention:

'1. In combination, a closure cap having an upwardly bulged upper wall provided with a central opening, an elastic element having a bulb disposed in said opening and a laterally extending flange having a bottle-neck sealing portion beneath said wall, said wall being spaced from said flange adjacent said bulb, a protuberance on said bulb exteriorly of the cap gripping said wall jointly with said flange, and a dropper tube applied drop by drop to' 'carried bythe flange in communication with said bulb.' v

2. In combination, a closure cap having an upwardly bulged upper wall provided with a central opening, an elastic element having a bulb disposed in said opening and a laterally extending bottle-neck sealing flange beneath said wall, a continuous protuberance on said bulb exteriorly of the cap gripping said wall jointly with said nange, said flange having a portion extending inwardly at the entrance to the bulb, and a dropper tube having an external groove engaged by said inwardly extending portion of the ange.

3. In combination, a closure cap having an` upper wall provided with a central opening, an elastic element having a bulb disposed in /said opening and a laterally extending flange having a bottle-neck sealing portion beneath said wall and engaged therewith about the margin of the ange, a continuous protuberance integral with said bulb exteriorly of the cap overlapping said wall about said opening, and a dropper tube extending through and carried by the ange in communication with said bulb, said flange adjacent the opening of the cap being spaced from said wall when the margin of the ange is in contact with said wall.

CHARLES G. YATES. WALLACE W. DE LANEY 

